Liverpool FC Forum

[stmichael]

Kewell back in sick bay

http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common....00.html

JUST when Socceroo Harry Kewell thought his season of woe couldn't get any worse, it has.

The Liverpool striker's immediate future is murkier than the waters of the Mersey after he yesterday broke down on the comeback trail from a groin injury.

Kewell has been stopped in his tracks by a bout of achilles tendinitis which threatens to sabotage his bid to help Liverpool progress in the Champions League and lift the League Cup later this month.

He had hoped to return to action by coming off the bench at home to Fulham in the premiership tomorrow

But after failing to complete a single training session in the last week, Kewell is looking long odds for the Reds' home clash against Bayer Leverkusen on February 22 and the Millennium Stadium date with Chelsea five days later.

His Paris-based manager Bernie Mandic confirmed: "Harry's struggling a bit but the club are doing everything they can to get him right.

"He's had scans which don't show anything substantial but despite his best efforts at the moment he simply can't shake off the discomfort and get back on the park.

"Harry was desperate to be fit for the Fulham game as part of his plan to play himself in for the Levurkusen match."

The injury is the latest chapter in a chronicle of pain for Kewell over the past 14 months and a further smudge on the dimming lustre of Australian football's poster boy.

His form this season has been subverted by previous ankle and hamstring injuries. Ominously, Kewell underwent achilles surgery in 2000, ruling him out of the Sydney Games.

Concerns over the 26-year-old - who hasn't played since December 19 - are so great that London-based Socceroos physios Les Gelis and Anthony Crea have been summoned to Anfield to assess a condition which confounds Liverpool's medical staff.

In an unfortunate spin-off for the national team, Kewell - who broke a 34-game goal drought against Aston Villa on December 4 - will not now risk his fitness by returning to Australia next month for the matches against Iraq on March 26 and the tsunami fund-raiser against Indonesia.

Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse on the injury front.

   

[lost_prophets]

wad the hell...wonders if he can recover in time for the carling cup final against chelsea...

[The_Rock]

sh1t, well we still have La tellac....

[FrankM]

How reliable is this scource StMichael. Theres nothing about it on the official site? Yet. If its true there must be a jinx on us.

[Ciggy]

I give up

[The_Rock]

More sites are reporting it....... No doubt about it.. its a curse.

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,12149283-23215,00.html

[KennyisGod....still]

Skysports text has Kewell down for a possible bench seat tomorrow, and they aint mentioned no injury yet. Still, theres always time.....

[Ciggy]

Maybe Rafa usin a fergie tactic, so he doesnt go to Durban next week for the socceroos freindly

[stmichael]

:;): Maybe Rafa usin a fergie tactic, so he doesnt go to Durban next week for the socceroos freindly

genius

yeah i'm surprised giggs and ferdinand haven't got "knocks" with the internationals coming up which then miraculously heal for the next league game.

[The_Rock]

Maybe Rafa usin a fergie tactic, so he doesnt go to Durban next week for the socceroos freindly

never thought of that 

[Ciggy]

:;): Maybe Rafa usin a fergie tactic, so he doesnt go to Durban next week for the socceroos freindly

genius

yeah i'm surprised giggs and ferdinand haven't got "knocks" with the internationals coming up which then miraculously heal for the next league game.

they will have by wednesday like Smith is ruled out for another 2 weeks

[stmichael]

this would have all been solved if he'd just had an operation in the summer.

[Ciggy]

The socceroos manager aint to happy, but if he wants a future at anfield he will have to get the Hernia op.

Kewell to miss friendlies
Liverpool's Harry Kewell is likely to need a hernia operation next summer if he does not take a break from international friendly games in the next six months, his manager has warned.

Bernie Mandic told Australian TV network SBS that Kewell needed a break from the game and that Australia would be fortunate to have him available for any friendlies in 2005, ruling him out of the Socceroos' preparations to win a World Cup finals spot in Germany for the first time in 32 years.

Mandic said Kewell was still suffering from persistent ankle and groin injuries which, if not rested, could leave him needing an off-season hernia operation.

``Realistically he should have a good rest,'' said Mandic.

``The physios have advised him to take a good eight to 10 weeks off. I would say you would be fortunate to see him twice in Australia.''

The Socceroos are scheduled to play friendlies against South Africa in Durban on February 9 and Iraq in Australia on March 26.

Kewell's summer should be dominated by the Confederations Cup in June, when the Socceroos face Germany, Argentina and Tunisia in the group stage. But if an operation is required then, Kewell will miss the tournament.

``God forbid, if he has to have an operation in the off-season then obviously the Confederations Cup is out of the picture,'' said Mandic.

``That is the one he definitely wants to be part of and believes every player should be part of that.

``He views the Confederations Cup as critically important for preparations to the World Cup and he really would love to be part of that.

``That for him is the priority next to the play-off match versus [a team from] South America.''

[stmichael]

if i was him, i'd almost be tempted to write off this season and concentrate on getting fit for next season. he's already been warned by leading surgeons that his career could be under threat if he doesn't have an operation so why not get it done now?

[Ciggy]

if i was him, i'd almost be tempted to write off this season and concentrate on getting fit for next season. he's already been warned by leading surgeons that his career could be under threat if he doesn't have an operation so why not get it done now?

I agree and hes not getting any younger, how long would he be out with an Hernia op?